Road-building machine



July 13 1926.

' F. J. DURDA ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1447776 was:

abbouwq July 13, 1926. I 1,592,187

- F. .1. DURDA ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13,1926. v 1,592,187

F. J. DURDA ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed NOV. 12 1923 N 5 Sheets- Sheet s Fffiu/r/d mfffewew F. J. DURDA ROAD BUILDING momma Filed Nov. 12, 1923 5 Sheets-she t 4' Jul 13, 1926;

* para July 13,

stares ROAD-BUILDING- MACHINE.

Application filed November This invention relates to a machine used in the construction of concrete or asphalt roads and'has more particular reference toa. machine that includes strike-off and tamping elementsfthe primary object thereof being the provision of such a machine wherein these strike-offend tamping elements are operated in a more simple and effective manner than are the similar elements employed in machines now upon the market and this without requiring a reat amount of power.

Gne of the main objects of this invention is to provide a road constructing machine wherein the same is adapted to be moved slowly in opposite directions as desired up on track-ways provided at opposite sides of the road, this machine moving mechanism being controlled by the motor power that is employed in the operation of the before mentioned strike-off and tamping elements.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character wherein means is provided for preventing a reversal of movement of the machine when the same is working up hill. A still further object is to provide a road constructing machine wherein the same is comparatively speaking, so simple of construction and operation as to be operated by even unskilled laborers. I

With the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same comprises the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanyingdrawings and claimed.

In the drawings wherein there is shown.

the most practical embodiment of the invention with which I am at this time familiar, and wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the different views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one end of a road constructing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 1*" is a similar View of the other end of the machine,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of one end of my improved machine,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary inside elevational view of a portion of the machine for disclosing in side elevation one of the rear traction wheels therefor,

Figure l is an. enlarged-detail sectional view taken through Figure 3 for disclosing 12, 1923. Serial No. 674,247.

in side elevation, the manually operable means whereby the movements of the machine upon its track rails in reverse directions may be controlled,

F igure 5 is an enlarged detail vertical cross section through the mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4,

Figure (3 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of the supporting and raising mechanism for the'template or strikeofl' bar of the present machine,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through Figure 6,

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective of the roller carrying plate element that forms a salient part of said'suppo-rting and raisin mechanism for said template or strikeoif bar,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon the line 9-9 of Figure 6 and looking in the general direct-ion of the arrows of said Figure 6, V

Figure 10 is an elevational view of one side of one of the drum members that cooperate with other elementsof the rear traction wheels of the machine together with the power means thereof for causing rotation of these wheels in opposite directions as desired,

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail side ele vational view of one of the rear traction wheels of the machine for more clearly disclosing the means for preventing a reversal of movement of the machine when the same is working upon a hill,

Figure 12 is an enlarged elevational view of one side of a dog member that oo-operates with a ratchet wheel carried by the respectivetraction wheel of the machine for preventing said reversal of movement of the machine, and

Figure 13 is a similar view of a connect-- ing element between said dog and a control lever employed for disengaging said dog from the ratchet wheel for allowing reversal of movement of the machine when desired.

Now having particular reference to the drawing, my novel machine embodies a supporting frame that includes a. pair of-spaced parallel U-bars 5 connected at their opposite ends by relatively long I-beains 6, said U- bars 5 being also interconnected intermediate their ends by brace bars 7, Figures 1 and 1*. At opposite ends of the connecting I-beams Gare pendant relatively inverted U-shapeol shaft hangers 8 extending through which are front and rear axle shafts 9-9 and 10-10, respectively and freely rotatable upon which are front and rear flanged supporting wheels l1-11 and 1212, respectively. These supporting wheels have rolling engagement with channel rails 13 at opposite sides of the road being constructed, it being preferable that these rails serve as the forms for the road being constructed.

intermediate the ends of the spaced parallel frame bars 5 is a platform it upon which is to be supported any desirable form of power plant, not shown, and preferably of the internal combustion engine type the power shaft 15 of which is adapted to be clutched to and unclutched from a hori- :aontal propeller shaft in suitably journaled at its opposite ends within bearings 17 through the medium of a desirable form of clutch mechanism 18, Figure 1. Traversing the parallel frame bars 5-13 of the machine frame and suitably iournaled at its opposite ends within said frame bar is a rock shaft 19 that is operativel i' connected to the movable element of the clutch mechanism 18 and that is also operatively connected to one end of a relatively long connecting rod 20 that extends laterally toward one side of the machine and is in turn connected at its op posite end to a hand lever 21 pivoted at its lower end to the adjacent I-beam (5 of the machine frame whereby said sl'iaft 19 may be rocked in reverse direction for controlling the clutch mechanism 18.

Keyed to this propeller shaft 16 at points adjacent the opposite ends thereof are cam elements 22, Figure l with which are associated the front ends of forwardly extending pitman rods 23 and that are in turn pivotally connected at their opposite ends between upstanding ears or lugs 2 formed upon the top side of drums 25 of a cross sectional configuration as more clearly shown in Figure 5, said drums 25 adapted for movements in opposite directions upon the rear axles 10 of the ma hine and this inwardly of the traction wheels i21:2 thereof.

As more clearly shown in Figure 5 each of the rear supporting and tractiijin wheels 12 is formed upon its inner side with circular rim 26 which engages within the inner open side of the adjacent before mentioned drum said drum being formed inwardly of its open end and with a guide flange 27.

Operatively connected to each of the supporting and traction wheels 12 and within the respective drum 25 is a pair of ratchet wheels designated respectively 28 and 29 the teeth of which are inclined in opposite directions and complementary with each of which is a spring-pressed dog 28 and 29 respectively. As more clearly shown in Figure at said dogs are normally maintained in engagement with their respective ratchet wheels through the medium of expansiblc coiled springs 30. For selective engagement with the inner shouldered ends 31 of said dogs is a cross lug that is carried by the inner pivoted end of lever 33 pivoted in the respective drum and adapted for swinging movement in a slot Ill provided for this purpose.

Formed integrally upon the outer side of each of said drums 25 is a segment 35 formed vith a pair of spaced notches 3G for the selective reception of a spring detent 3. carried by said handle 33 it being of course obvious that when the dogs 2%28' are in engagement with their respective ratchet wheels 2'o-28 of the rear supporting and traction whet-ls l'3*l2 and when the propeller shaft 16 is rotating, a relatively slow forward movement of the machine will be had. lily disengaging said dogs 2S28 from their respective ratchet wheels and engaging the other pair of dogs 2929 with their respective ratchet wheels a rotation of said propeller shaft 16 will manfestly control the slow movement of the machine in an opposite direction upon the rails 13.

As a means for preventing the reversal of movement of the machine when the same is working upon inclined roads each of said rear supporting and traction wheels 12 is equipped upon its outer face with a ratchet wheel 38 the teeth of which are inclined in a rearward direction as more clearly shown in Figure 11. Extending through a circular opening in the outer leg portion of each of the rear wheel shaft hangers S is a relatively long bolt 39, Figure 5, upon the inner end of which is a dog it) complementary to the respective ratchet wheel 38, the outer face of this dog at its rear end being formed with a pair of diametrically disposed dovctail shaped lugs -ll. Upon the respective bolts '39 outwardly of the dog it) a disk l2, the inner face of which is formed with a pair of diametrically opposite dove-tail shaped lugs the lengths of w] 'ch are slightly lesser than the space between the pair of dove-tail shaped lugs ll of said dog -l0 for consequently allowing a slight movement of the dog with respect to the disk.

Uperatirely connected to the outer end of each of said relatively long bolts 39 is a hand lever it that carries a suitable form of spring controlled detent 4:5 for co-operation with spaced notches in in a segment ti rigi lly connected to the adjacent leg of the respective hanger From a consideration of Figure 11 it will be noted that each of said dogs l0 is normally maintained in engagement with its respective ratchet wheel through the medium of an expansible coiled spring 47 and that when the hand lever H is in the icsition shown in said Figure 11 the supporting and traction wheels 1212 will be allowed to rotate in a forward direction through the transmission mechanism between the propeller shaft 16 of the machine and said traction wheels. However, in vi w of the structure just set forth a reversal of movement of said traction wheels 12--12 will be prevented when my machine is working up hill: However, should a reversal of movement of the machine be desired the detent 45 may be removed from the notch shown and the hand levers at opposite sides of the machine swung rearwardly for consequently raising the dogs 40 from their complementary ratchet wheels 38.

Slightly rearwardly of the front horizontal frame bar 5 of the machine and extending parallel therewith is a shaft d9 jour naled at its opposite ends within the end frame bars 6-6 of the machine frame and also being disposed'for rotation within registering openings in the strengthening bars 7 between said parallel horizontal frame bars 55. Keyed to this shaft 49 adjacent its opposite ends are pinion gears 50, Figure 9, the teeth of which have mesh with rack teeth 51 upon the upper ends of pendant fiatlike bars 52 slid-able at theinl-ower ends in guide bars or trams 53, Figure 2, which guide bars are pendant from a suitable under structure 54, supported from the frame of the machine. Each of these rack bars 52 carries at its lower end a relatively long and peculiarly shaped cross plate 54 that carries at its opposite ends pairs of forwardly extending spaced rollers 55, Figure 6 between which extends the upper'flanged portion 56 of a horizontal Ubeam 56 upon the front side of which is removably secured aconcrete strike-off template 57, a number of these templates being provided for selective attachment to said U-beam 56 whereby the desired crown of the road may be had, it being of course understood that said templates are formed with curvatures of varying degrees.

In engagement with the outer face of the template 5? is a guide roller 58 suitably carried by the under frame structure 54 above described while in rolling engagement with the inner side of the U-beam 56 is another guide roller 59 these guide rollers co-oper ating with said guide members 53 for preventing any forward or rearward thrust of the U-beam and templet 56 and 57 respectively.

One end of the before mentioned horizon tal' shaft 19 extends beyond the adjacent I-beam 6 of the machine frame and is equipped with a ratchet wheel 60, Figure 6, complementary with which is a pivoted dog 61 for manifestly preventing a reversal of movement of said shaft 49. This end of the shaft is squared at 62 for the reception of a handle, it being apparent that when said move pitman rods 23 back and shaft 49 is manually rotated in one direction the rack bars 52 will be consequently raised for raising the template carrying U-beam to the desired height or for raising the same in an upward direction to the limit of its movement whereby the machine may be moved over the road without said template en aging the surface of the roadway.

The before mentioned propeller shaft 16- is equipped at one side of the clutch mechanisn'i 18 with a relatively small beveled gear 63 that has mesh with a relatively larger beveled gear 65 upon the inner end of a crank shaft 65 which crank shaft is, as shown more clearly in Figure 1, journaled at its opposite ends within the foremost horizontal frame bar 5 of the machine frame and an auxiliary bar 66 between adjacent strengthening bars 7 of the machine frame.

Between the cranked portion of said shaft 65 and the lJ-beam 56 of the strike-off mechanism of the machine, is a connecting rod 67 it being obvious that when the crank shaft 65 is rotated a rectilinearmovement will be imparted to said U-beam 56 of the strike-off mechanism for consequently strikingoii the concrete to the proper grade and curve, and this while the machinery is moving slowly forwardly, V

Adjacent the opposite ends of the propeller shaft 16 are beveled gears 68 that have mesh with other beveled gears 69 upon the inner ends of crank shafts 7 0 journaled in a manner similar to the before mentioned crank shaft 65. Pendant from the crank portions of these shafts 70 are connecting rods 71 that are resilientl 1 connected as at 72, Figure 2, to a tamping element 7 3 which tamping element is suitably guided for vertical movements in opposite directions as indicated generally at 74.

Referring now to the general operation of my apparatus, it will be seen and understood that, as the apparatus advances along the rails, to the sides of the paving-bed, thi movement will be of an intermittent nature caused by the rotation of the propeller shaft 16 which rotates elements 22 to forth, thereby oscillating drums 25- and through either pawls 28 or 29 impart intermittentrotation of ratchets 28 and wheels 12. The direction of the intermittent rotation of these wheels 12 may obviously be reversed by proper manipulation of lever 33 as heretofore explained in detail. The strike-off mechanism is brought into play when desired by releasing pawl 61 and the horizontal U-beam 56 will lower of its own weight to engage the strike-off templates 5? with the paving bed. The shaft 16 imparts rectilinear motion to the U-beam and strike-off templates attached thereto through gears 63 and 64, crank shaft 65 and pitman 67 so that the paving material is spread to produce the desired crown. Obviously, a hand crank ma be engaged on the squared end of the shaft 4-0 to rotate the same to operate 5 gears 50 and rack bars 52 to raise the strikeoii' mechanism clear of the road when desired. The rotation of the shaft 16 also simultaneously causes the rotation of crank shafts '70 through gears 68 and (39 and these 111 crank shafts raise and lower connecting rods 71 and tamping elements 73 for tamping the paving bed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a. high novel and efiicient term of road constructing machine and one that may be effectively er plo yed in the striking oil and tampinp; operations of the road material.

The detailed operation as well as numerous advantages of a machine of this charac- Zfi ter will he readil; apparent to those skilled in the art. and even though I have herein set forth the most practical embodiment of the invention with which I am at this time familiar, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may he made wi hin the. invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a road building' mac line. a wheeled frame, a shalt journaled transversely ol the frame, a plurality oil? gears l-te v shatt, a pliualit o't vcrticallv e. rack bars meshing with the gears. ankle 35 means for the rack bars, a plate carried h each rack bar. rollers jonrnaled on each plate. a heam having! a l'lane'e disposed lietwecn the rollers so as to be slidahlv mounted on the racl: liars. means for re the beam, means "tor preventing i from rotating in one direction. anl ralit v of templates mounted on t e beam.

2. In a road building machine. a frame, a shaft jonrnaled across the gears on the shaft, verticall dispowd ra bars meshing with the gear-5. guide nouns tor the lZlClC bars. a plate mounted i each rack bar, a pair of rollers on cat-h p z: e one ahove the other. a beam having a tlanre re- 59 ceivable between the rollers. l mounted on the beam, a crank n naled in the frame. means tor rotating the crank shaft. and a pitman connecting t c 'anlc ot the cranl-z shaft with the heron or imparting rectilinear movement thereto.

In testimony whereof I a'liix my signatnre.

FRANK .l. Dl "i1 Di. 

